Have Your Say - Top Risks for Schools in 2024
Subscribe

June 23: School Governance Weekly Wrap

22/06/16

AUSTRALIA

Malek Fahd Islamic school given reprieve by court orders

The ABC reports that the Federal Government has been ordered to release funding to Malek Fahd Islamic School in order to stop the school from closing this week. The school has previously had its $19 million annual Federal funding revoked after it was found to be operating for-profit and to have serious financial mismanagement issues. There was a temporary reprieve in April after an appeal by the school to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Federal Government found their compliance with the new funding terms lacking, and as such did not release the funding. The school, concerning it would have to close its doors after this term, appealed again to the Federal Court who have decided the school’s funding is to be reinstated. The Federal Education Department is still deciding whether it will comply with the court order, undecided on whether the school complies with the Australian Education Act requirements for funding.

Students taken to hospital after taking drugs on school camp

The Age reports that two students from a Victorian school were rushed to hospital after taking LSD on a school camp on the Gold Coast. The four students  involved in the incident have been cautioned by the Police. The Victorian Department of Education and Training has released a statement saying that drug incidents in Victorian schools were uncommon and that they will work with the school to provide support to the students involved.

Schools skip classes to save money

The Age reports that a number of schools in Victoria have shortened their lessons to reduce spiralling costs. However, some schools have shortened lessons so much they are now breaching the Victorian Department of Education and Training requirement that students receive 25 hours of face-to-face instruction each week. Two years ago Northcote High School cut class times and now students spend 31 minutes less time in class each week than required. The Department has issued an exemption to the school as the change saved the school up to $100,000 a year in teaching costs.

Race elements of religious education materials ‘highly offensive’

The Brisbane Times reports that controversial religious instruction materials under review by Queensland’s Education Department single out indigenous students as being “most teachable when sitting in small groups outside under a tree”. Education Minister Kate Jones has labelled the content “highly offensive” and outdated. The materials first made headlines after a primary school lesson plan encouraged students to re-enact a beheading as part of the telling of a bible story. The review of the materials is ongoing.

WA child protection numbers double over past 10 years

Perth Now reports that despite the number of WA children in child protection doubling over the past 10 years to 4632, including an increase of 670 children in care in the past three years alone, only six additional child protection workers have been employed by the state since May 2013. Child Protection and Family Support director Emma White said that the increase was due, in part, to the broadening of what constituted child abuse and neglect. Ms White also stated that the Department has allocated more funding to support the increase.

New visa opens the door to international primary student and their guardians

The SBS reports that from July 1 students aged six and above will be able to apply for student visas (subclass 500) regardless of their country of citizenship. Their guardians will also be able to apply for Guardian Visas (subclass 580). Currently the system assess applications based on immigration risk and most Chinese students are ranked at level three – the highest risk – requiring a great deal of evidence to support applications. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the changes to visa rules during his recent visit to China.

Teachers use online ‘robots’ to write school reports

The Australian reports that teachers in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia are using online “robots” to compile cut and paste student report cards to be sent to parents over the next fortnight. Education Departments allow teachers in these jurisdictions to use time-saving websites, the most popular being Report Robot. Report Robot tells teachers they can “impress parents” by producing “personalised report comments for every student” at a cost of $82.50 a year. The website allows teachers to type in a student’s first name, then select from a list of comments automatically written into a summary that can be cut and pasted onto report cards.

INTERNATIONAL

Islamic school gives 11-year-old student anti-ISIS classes

The Daily Mail reports that an Islamic school in England is giving students as young as 11 classes in order to help them recognise violent propaganda to prevent jihadists from grooming them online. The school’s syllabus promotes peace and now teaches students to use the Koran to determine whether the messages in violent online propaganda is being falsely communicated. The school made the decision to expand their curriculum to include anti-ISIS classes after a number of people in the town were leaving the UK to join ISIS.

Share this
About the Author

Ideagen CompliSpace

Resources you may like

Article
Sextortion: A Growing Concern for Schools

Trigger warning: This article references sexual assault, child abuse, and suicide.

Read More
Article
Changes to the Australian Consumer Law – What Schools Need to Know

Many schools rely on standard form contracts to avoid the time and cost of drafting and negotiating...

Read More
Article
The SG Wrap: February 29, 2024

The information in the SG Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that...

Read More

Want School Governance delivered to your inbox weekly?

Sign up today!
Subscribe